Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Russian women to have larger families, urging them to consider having "seven, eight, or more" children to combat the country's declining population.
Speaking via video link at the World Russian People's Council, Putin addressed what he referred to as Russia's "catastrophic demographic problems" and emphasized the importance of family traditions, as per Mail Online.
Putin Urges Russians to Embrace Large Families
In his speech, Putin cited the historical tradition of multi-generational families with several children, noting that many Russian families in the past had seven or eight children. He urged citizens to preserve and revive these traditions, stating, "Large families must become the norm."
The Russian leader's call for increased birth rates comes in response to a significant decline in the country's population, which has been exacerbated by factors such as the war in Ukraine, mandatory military conscription, and economic stagnation. To address this population slump, Putin is pursuing various policies and initiatives to encourage childbirth.
In a somewhat unconventional move, Putin suggested that the state would support "motherhood" and offered incentives for families to have more children.
He acknowledged that many Russians have a tradition of multi-generational solid families, which he believes should be embraced and expanded. However, the average number of babies per woman in Russia is currently only 1.42, and this figure is decreasing rapidly.
To reverse this trend, Putin is urging Russians to return to an era when large families were commonplace, evoking the spirit of the tsarist era, according to The Sun.
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Russia's Population
It is worth noting that Vladimir Putin, who is known for his private and secretive personal life, is believed to have at least six children from three different partners, though he publicly acknowledges only two daughters. His call for increased childbirth rates has led to speculations about his own family.
In addition to encouraging larger families, Russia is also implementing measures to restrict access to abortions, with some regions banning them in private clinics. Russian MP Sultan Khamzaev even proposed financial incentives to dissuade women from having abortions.
One particularly controversial proposal that recently came to light involved turning female convicts into "baby-making machines" to support Russia's population growth.
Under this scheme, female prisoners would be temporarily freed to become pregnant, with the promise of reduced sentences for successful pregnancies. Those who failed to conceive would be returned to penal colonies.
The call for increased childbirth rates coincides with Russia's declining population, which saw a significant decrease of 555,000 during the first year of Putin's war in Ukraine. This decline has raised concerns about the country's economic prospects.
While Putin's plea for larger families may aim to address demographic challenges, it is also seen as a strategic move in preparation for Russia's presidential elections in 2024.
As Russia grapples with a shrinking population and other pressing issues, Putin's call for more children has become a prominent aspect of his leadership agenda, Express reported.
